Ignition controlling device for photographic flash light lamps



y 1, 1934. H. D. BLAKE 1,968,597

IGNITION CONTROLLING DEVICE FOR PHOTOGRAPHIC FLASH LIGHT LAMPS Filed Sept. 17. 1932 INVEN 2".UR HARULEEBLAKE,

BY Wm Hrs A? TURN-BY.

rent OFFICE UNITED STAES IGNITION CONTROLLHQ'G EV I C E FOR rno'roonarmd FLASH HT LAMPS Harold D. Blake, Cleveland Heights, Ohio, as signor to General Electric Eompany, a cornea-a?= tionof New Yorlr 1 Application September r2. 1e32, Serial No. 633,637

6 .Glas. (Ci. fi7-==-29) My invention relates to photography and more winding of solenoid 25. Other parts required for particularly to electrical switching apparatus for operation are the flash lamp 26, switch 27 and controlling the ignition of flash lamps and the battery 28 or other source of direct current. like. Still more particularly my invention re- These parts are wired as shown and are conlates to switching devices, operating through nected to block 17 by plugs 29 which are insertshutter movement, for closing in proper time reed in jacks 22, 23 and 2%. lation thereto the electrical ignition circuit of a To operate, the shutter 12 is first primed or set flash lamp or the. like. The ignition of the lightby swinging lever 14 into the position indicated giving means must necessarily take place after by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The camera should the shutter has partially opened, dueto the very then be aimed by use of finder l3 whereupon the short period of time required to set ofi said (16- shutter and the flash lamp may be operated in vice in comparison to the time required to open proper time relation to each other by closing the shutter. In former devices the shutter was switch 2'7. As contact 21 and, contact pin 16 are usually either more quickly or more slowly opened in engagement with each other when the circuit than was desired as the speed of shutter action is closed, current passes into the solenoid 25 which varied individually and was not consistent. operates, through armature 29, release lever 15..

One object of my invention is to provide switch- This causes the shutter to operate. With the ing means for closing an electrical circuit after release of the shutter, priming lever 14 is carpartial operation of the camerashutter. Another ried upward and pin 16 engages contact at object of my invention is to provide switching approximately the instant the shutter becomes means for opening one electrical circuit and closfully opened. The dash lamp ignition circuit is ing another during operation of camera shutter. therefore closed and the lamp is given time for Still another object of my invention is to procomplete operation before the shutter reaches the vide a switch operative through actual shutter closed position. In one case, which is typical,

movement which can easily be attached to camthe particular flash lamps used emitted the maeras now in use. Other features and advantages jor portion of their light in from .015 to .ozo

' of my invention will appear from the drawing second and the shutter required from .0174 to .and description which follow of the switch and .0544 second to come to full open position after methods of use. release. The advantage of operating the flash Now referring to the drawing, Fig. 1 is a headlamp ignition circuit by mechanism such as primon elevation of a camera embodying the switch ing lever 14 which is actuated by actual movement of my invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of of the shutter will be apparent. the shutter priming lever; Fig. 3 is a perspective Another form of my invention is illustrated in View of the contact block used therewith; and Fig. 5. In this arrangement the solenoid is dis- Figs. 4 and 5 are wiring diagrams of two methods pensed with and the device is operated manually of using the switch of my invention. through the usual shutter release lever 15. "1'0 In the specific application of my invention operate, the shutter is first primed by swinging shown in Fig. 1, the switchingmechanism is the lever 14 down and switch 2? closed where- 1 mounted on the front of the camera 10 which upon the photograph may be taken in the usual 0 is provided with a lens 11, a shutter 12 and a manner. Either direct or alternating current finder 13. The shutter which is of a well-known may be.utilized for this form of the invention. type is operated by priming and release levers 14 What I claim as new and desire to secure by and 15 p v y a pe ates said switch n Letters Patent of the United States, is:

mechanism through priming lever'14. To the 1. In a device of the character described, the 4 I end of the priming lever 14 is attached contact combination of a camera comprising a shutter, pin 16 (Fig. 2), and to a flange (not shown) exoperating mechanism for said shutter compristending from the shutter behind said lever is ing a movable release lever and a movable prim- Y attached block 17 (Figs. 1 and 3) by screws 18. ing lever, a flash lamp and an electric ignition Contact pin 16 is caused to bear against the surcircuit connected thereto, and acontact'con- Q face of said block by spring19 which, with connected in said ignition circuit and so disposed tacts or inserts 20 and 21 in the face of-the block, in the path of movement of said priming lever constitutes the switching means. Priming lever that it is engaged by said priming lever after 14 and contact 20 are, as shown in Fig. 4, wired the latter has left its priming position and tojacks 22 and 23 respectively and contact 21 after the shutter has started to open, the opand jack 24 are wired to respective ends of the eration of said parts being so timed that the 1. 0

flashing of said lamp occurs when the shutter is completely open.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a camera comprising a shutter, operating mechanism for said shutter comprising a movable release lever and a. movable priming lever, a solenoid for actuating said release lever, an electrical solenoid operating circuit, a flash lamp with an electrical ignition circuit connected thereto including a contact mounted in the path of travel of said priming lever that is engaged by said priming lever after the shutter has started to open to close said ignition circuit, the operating of said parts being so 1 timed that the flashing of said lamp occurs when the shutter is completely open.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of ,a camera comprising a shutter, shutter actuating mechanism comprising a rotatable lever, a contact pin resiliently mounted on the end of said lever, a flash lamp and elec tric ignition circuit connected thereto segmental contact disposed in the path of rotation of said lever and connected in said electric circuit so that engagement of said lever contact pin therewith completes said electric circuit.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a camera comprising a shutter, op-

crating mechanism for saidv shutter comprising a movable priming lever, a flash lamp and an electric ignition circuit connected thereto, a contact disposed in the path of movement of said priming lever, switch means for setting said electric circuit after the priming lever has been moved to its priming position, and a movable release lever for releasing said shutter and priming lever so that said priming lever engages said contact after the shutter has started to open and flashes said-lamp when the shutter is completely open.

5. In a device of the character described, the combination of a camera comprising a shutter, shutter actuating mechanism comprising a movable lever, a solenoid for actuating said lever, an electrical solenoid operating circuit, a priming lever for said shutter, a flash lamp with electrical ignition circuit connected to said priming lever, a. contact disposed in the path of movement of said priming lever and connected .in said ignition circuit, a second contact disposed at one end of the path of movement of said priming lever and connected in said solenoid circuit, and means for closing said solenoid circuit to actuate said movable lever and open said shutter, said priming lever in turn engaging said first contact to close the said flash lamp ignition circuit.

6. In a device of the character described, the combination of a camera comprising a shutter, operating mechanism for said shutter comprising a movable release lever and a movable priming lever, a solenoid for actuating said release lever, an electrical solenoid operating circuit, a flash lamp with an electrical ignition circuit connected thereto, and a contact disposed in the path of travel of said priming lever and connected in said flash lamp circuit a second contact located at the priming position of said priming lever and connected in said solenoid circuit, and switch means for closing said solenoid circuit to actuate said release lever which opens said shutter and releases said priming lever, said priming lever then engaging said first contact to close the flash lamp ignition circuit.

HAROLD D. BLAKE. 

